Chapter 29: Settling into the Guild

Once everything was agreed upon, each of us returned home to pack some clothes for our stay at the Guild. When I arrived, I saw my parents, and they told me they fully supported me. They understood what I was going through and reassured me not to worry about them—that they would be fine.

— “Alright, sweetheart, take your time. We’ll be busy these months too, and it’s good that you’ll be occupied as well. But if you ever need us, we’ll give you all the emotional support you need,” my mother said warmly.

— “Try not to hurt yourself too much, physically or mentally. Life is only one, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. There’s nothing else but the rest of the beyond,” my father added, making things clear—though I already understood them well enough given my mental age.

I went to my room, packed a suitcase with clothes, and also brought along the book I was reading, just in case. After saying goodbye, my parents hugged and kissed me. Then I headed back to the Guild.

When I arrived, I saw Mizu, Akane, and Mizuki already waiting with their belongings packed, ready to live in the Guild. They spotted me and said:

— “Taiyaki, are you ready to spend the coming months here? We once had to stay a whole weekend at the Guild, so you’ll get used to it,” Akane said cheerfully, almost as if we were preparing for a slumber party.

— “I’m so excited that we’ll be living together for several months. I can’t wait for tomorrow to start training!” Mizu added happily.

Mizuki, however, spoke more seriously:
— “Let’s focus on improving ourselves rather than on silly things. We’re Magical Girls now—we have responsibilities to fulfill. We can’t waste time on childish games like a sleepover. We’re old enough to prioritize killing demons over spending time on things like that.”

I then spoke calmly but firmly:
— “Let’s try to get along with the Elite Girls. Why don’t we go upstairs now and see where the four of us will be staying?”

We all agreed and entered the Guild. The guards who had seen us leave earlier stopped us again for inspection, confirming once more that we weren’t demons, and then let us through.

By then, it was around 7 PM and night was falling. The Guild’s lamps were already lit. As we reached the second floor, we saw the leader of the Elite Magical Girls waiting for us. She noticed us and smiled brightly, greeting us with cheerful laughter:

— “So, you’re finally ready to live in the Guild. Good. You four will share one room since the others are occupied by other Magical Girls. After what happened with the traitor, we can’t take risks. I hope you understand.”

Her tone was both cheerful and firm, making it clear she was serious about avoiding any problems.

Akane, curious, asked:
— “By the way, what time are breakfast, lunch, and dinner?”

The leader handed her a sheet with the daily schedule. Akane passed it to me, and when I read it, I was stunned:

Guild Daily Schedule

6:30 – Wake up

7:00 – Breakfast

7:50 – Mental Training

9:00 – Reading and Written Study

10:30 – Break

11:00 – Spell Creation

12:00 – Lunch

13:00 – Physical Training

17:00 – Guild Assistance Work

19:00 – Bath Time

20:00 – Prayer to the Goddess

21:00 have dinner

22:00 – Sleep

Akane, now serious, smiled as if realizing how intense things would be. I couldn’t believe how much these girls did daily—far more than what we had done so far.

The Elite Leader then added:
— “I expect you to follow the rules while living here. They’re posted on a sign in your room, right in front of the door. Any girl who breaks three rules will be expelled from the Guild and never allowed to return. I hope I’ve made myself clear.”

We all nodded in agreement. Then she left, and we carried our things to the room assigned to us. When we opened the door, there were four beds—one for each of us. I placed my suitcase on mine and collapsed onto the bed, exhausted from the long day.

Mizu came closer and asked:
— “Are you nervous about us living together in the Guild for a while, Taiyaki? I hope you’re not scared about sleeping away from home.”

I looked at her with a blank face, a sweat drop metaphorically sliding down my head. Then I replied:
— “Um, I’ll be fine, Mizu. Don’t you remember when we camped out to fight the Demon Ogre Boss? I’ve slept away from home before.”

She blushed and admitted sheepishly:
— “Oh, right. I’m such an idiot for forgetting that. Well then, since it’s already 7, how about we head to the bath? We have to follow the schedule.”

We all agreed, though I felt nervous at the thought of bathing with them.

Then Mizu told Mizuki and Akane to go ahead, saying she needed to talk to me privately. They agreed and left with their clothes, while Mizu and I stayed behind.

She spoke to me through our telepathic link:
— “I know what you’re worried about, but relax. I know you won’t stare. I also know these things make you uneasy because of our past lives. Remember when I teased you once, stroking your head and pretending to touch your private parts? You got so nervous—I laughed so hard that day.”

Her tone was teasing, and I blushed as I replied mentally:
— “Hey, this is serious. You know I’m still a guy mentally.”

She giggled and answered:
— “Then why did you cosplay anime girls at the few conventions we went to?”

I had no response, and she continued:
— “See? You won’t do anything. Besides, I know you—you’re not some perverted creep who’d take advantage of this body to peek at girls. I bet you’ll be more focused on bathing quickly and leaving than on spending time with me. But don’t worry, I’ll tell Mizuki and Akane that you and I will bathe separately together so you won’t have any problems.”

Her reassurance calmed me. I hugged her and replied telepathically:
— “Thanks for everything, Mizu. I don’t know what I’d do without you in these situations.”

She hugged me back, smiling:
— “Alright, let’s get going. Grab your clothes so we can change after.”

And so, we got ready and headed toward the bath.